From the Housetops

nne, but with characteristic astuteness laid his plans so that they were to come upo

purpose of signing the ante-nuptial contract already agreed upon. Five o'clock was the hour set for the gathering. Lawyers representing both parties we

his desire to be the only witness to her confusion when confronted by the "obsequious salesman and his baubles from the sea." If quite agreeable to her he would make an appointment with the jeweller for 3.30 and would call for her in person. After that, he continue

to choose for herself from an assortment of half-a-dozen beautiful offerings, no price to be mentioned. He was quite sure that she would not even consider the cost. He credited her with an honest scorn for sentimentality; she

the time appointed for the conference. In her secret but subdued pleasure over acquiring the co

s that would have to be kept in one of those staunch, opulent looking safes. She experienced a thrill of satisfaction by describing herself in advance, as one of the women with pearls. And there was additional gratification in the knowledge that she could hardly be called a matron in the strict sense of the word. She was glad that she was too young for that. She tried to recall the names of all the women who possessed pearls like th

could not resist the impulse to shoot a swift, startled look out of the corners of her eyes at the silent old man beside her. That was a lot of money! And it was money that

and truly to be mine?" she

the thought that was in her mind. "I give and bequeath them to you this day, to hav

re," she said, res

utler. His patient, set smile did not depart so much as the fraction of an

Wade?" inqui

the tall clock on the landing. "It is a quarter past fou

she woul

m!-if Mr. Braden was likely

aped into her eyes as she looked about her. Something

. Braden declines to honour us with h

ir, in

rm. Forgive me, Anne, if I leave you to yourself for a few minutes. My joy at having you here is shorn of its keenness by a long-established age that demands house-boots, an eider-down

id Anne, with a slight shiver that was no

of prodigious stature, and a thin Italian cabinet surmounted by an urn whose unexposed contents might readily have suggested something more sinister than the dust of antiquity. The door to the library was open. Fitful red shadows flashed dully from

o wake. She had removed one of her gloves. With the slim, bared fingers she fondled the pearls about her neck, but her thoughts were not of baubles. She was thinking

es left unused by the doors and windows. Heavy damask curtains shut out the light of day. She wondered why they had been drawn so early, and whether they were always drawn like this. Near the big fireplace, with its long mantelpie

led criminal orderliness in putting the table to rights. He wanted the papers and magazines left just as they were, so that he could put his han

between them. In this room Braden Thorpe had been coddled and scolded

w voice; "you are quite sur

, quite sure." He hesitated for a moment. "I think he said that he intended to give himself the pleasure of a call-ahem! I b

p or two nearer the door, possessed of a

is not expected to be here durin

caught the queer little note in her voice, or he may have seen the hunted look in her eyes before she turned them away. At any rate, he poked t

he had the queer, uncanny feeling that she was locked i

Mr. Templeton Thorpe

andson in

ur and has been waiting for

e to see him at once in th

e did not have to be told that Anne's presence in the house was not to be made known to Braden. All that he w

Braden and Anne were face to face with each oth

oot inside the house that she was to be tricked. In a flash she realised that Mr. Thorpe himself was responsible for the encounter she had dreaded. It was

o rush into Braden's arms? Was he lurking behind some near-by curtain to witness her

life. In eager silence she stood on the thin edge of circumstance, ready to fall as the wind blew strongest. She was in revolt. If this stupefied, white-faced young man had but called out to her: "A

is lips, and the fate of Anne Tresslyn was sealed as

said, a flush of anger spreading over his

eath since he entered the room. Her life had been standing still, waiting till these few stupendous seconds were over. Now they were gone and she could take up life where it had left off. The tightness in her throat relaxed. The crisis was o

ered the words that hung unuttered on her lips would have glorified him and brought shame to her pride forever more. Five words trembled there awaiting deliverance and

ery straight beside the table. He was just inside the door lea

o it, and he has made good. This is his way of-" He broke off in the middle of th

cing her now, and she stopped short. His jaw was set but there was no insane light in the eyes that regarded her so steadily. Somehow-and suddenly-her composure was restored. She was not afraid of him. She was not afraid of t

erself. She would have to deny the man she loved. She would have to tell him that she was going for a higher price than he could pay. The time had come an

et us take time to steady ourselves. We have a good deal to say to each othe

"Why should I be frightened? I am the last person in the wo

why should that hav

raid-at first. You implied a moment ago that I had arr

own lips. You would not see me. You were not permitted to see me. I told him that you were being forced into this horrible marriage, that your mother was afraid to

s your grandfather secreted somewhere n

or love, or respect, or even position. So let's speak plainly. I say that he arranged this meeting between us. He brought you here, and he sent upstairs for me to join him in this room. Well, you see he isn't here. We are quite alone. He is fair to both of us. He is giving me my chance and he is giving you yours. It only remains for us to settle th

ea for himself, not this terse, cold-blooded, almost unemotional summing up of the situation. For an instant she was at a loss. It was hard to lo

iscuss my private affairs with

ruth. If you say to me that your mother is deliberately forcing you into this marriage I'll believe you, and I'

It is I, not my mother, who expects to marry Mr. Thorpe, and I am quite old

they looked squarely into each other's eyes

all not do this unspeakable thing! For God's sake, gir

I cannot permit you or any man to say such things to

ink about it, Anne?" he c

rm as the mistress of this house, but I accepted them from my fiancé to-day in precisely the same spirit in which they were given: as alms to the undeserving. Your grandfather did not want me to marry you. He is merely paying me to keep my hands off. That's the long and the short of it. I am not in the least deceived. You will say that I could-and should have told him to go to the devil. Well, I'm sorry to have to tell you that I couldn't see my way clear to doing that. I hope he is listening behind the curtains. We drove a hard bargain. He thought he could get off with a million. You must remember that he had deliberately disinhe

gradation you are piling up for yourself. Spare yourself that mi

love some one. That's natural, isn't it? Then, why shouldn't it be you? Oh, laugh if you will! It doesn't hurt me in the least. Curse me, if you like. I've made up my mind

ve turned out if they had been le

a millstone, nevert

d not have her eyes opened in time. She had no chance to escape. But we're not here to talk about Lutie Carnahan. I have told my grandfather that I int

ng figure rising in the middle of the ceremony to cry out against the final w

, your decency, your self-respect, if n

"And will you confine

do you

. Thorpe's honour, decency, self-respect and love for you,"

view. He seems to feel that he is do

ge? Will you take me back as I was before this thing came up? Will you make me your wife, just as if nothin

g against himself. "I will take you back, Anne, as if nothing had happen

o beat rapidly once more and the anger died away.

amended eagerly. "Oh, Anne, you are wo

morrow?" she went on, wa

rant you a moment's respite. If you do not say the word

refuse-w

you were the only woman

you sure that you

ere,-a month ago," he said simply. "A girl

worth the honour," she said, feeling h

e word now?" he

iumph. He was safe for all time. He would come to

play fast and loose with a man as

u call your treatment of me? Fast and loose! Good

. "You will get over it. He wouldn't have the

to prevent this marriage, but succeed or fail, I don't want to see your face again as long as I live. I'm through with you. You are like your mother. You are a damned vampire. God, how I have loved and trusted you, how I

e loved you," she

rembled with joy and passion,-and now you call it love! Love! You have never loved in your life and you never will. You call self-gratificat

h. I will hate you if you utter another word, and I don't want to hate you

ow before her. "Humanity compels me to grant you all

rd the door. "I-I am hurt, Braden. Can't

. You think only of yourself when you cry 'I am hurt'! Don't you eve

f you can, why I am doing th

and," he s

e might rush from the room before she

play. You can't understand,-you are too big and fine,-you cannot understand the little things, Braden. I want love and happiness, but I want the other, too. Don't you see that w

upted the impassioned appeal. His hand sh

re to be said. I understand everything no

head went up and defi

ask for it now, I will wait for it, my friend. We love each other. Time mends a good ma

have a little decency, Anne

revolt against all of the finer inst

perfectly. Tell him everything I have said. He will not mind. I am sorry you will no

t? What

We are to sign the paper at five o'clock. Yes, you'd better run along, Braden, or you'll find yourself the centre of a

ave than here," he grated out. "You

will be soon. I suppose I am not

oor behind him,

who slam doors,"